You americans are soooo lucky

[jasonmasters]

you can't tell me their are no good custom makers in the UK....

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Basses in the US are cheaper than in the UK because the US continues to put out 95% of all good music in the world. It's like an endorsement deal for the whole country for having better taste in music and better musicians to boot. Tell the UK to step it up musically and maybe they'll be in the same boat.



Besides, all of your awesome German luthiers are considerably cheaper on that end of the pond. I'll send you five MIA Fenders if you send me a Ritter Roya 6-string.

 

[joeyl]

opened this thread by mistake

This should be moved to misc or off topic

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

you can't tell me their are no good custom makers in the UK....

Sure, there's loads. GB, Sei, Wal, Overwater, Shuker, Jaydee, ACG, Enfield, Gus, and plenty more. Personally, for people in the UK who want a Fender, I'd recommend someone in the UK went to Jon Shuker for a custom Jazz Bass, since it'd be cheaper than a US Jazz, not to mention customised to order. But some people must have the cachet of the Fender badge, I guess.

Or if they want to go the super-Jazz route, go see Bernie at GB or Martin at Sei - cheaper than a NYC Sadowsky, just as well made and every bit as good. Or order a Sandberg from Germany - again, much better price than a Sadowsky or USA Lakland.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Yeah, american basses are more expensive in europe but also the japanese basses are more expensive in europe!

Ibanez SR5006, 1995eur [$2649.17US] (thomann)
$2099.99 at Musicians Friend

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
$2899.99 at music 123 (discontinued )

 

[addylewis]

Basses in the US are cheaper than in the UK because the US continues to put out 95% of all good music in the world. It's like an endorsement deal for the whole country for having better taste in music and better musicians to boot. Tell the UK to step it up musically and maybe they'll be in the same boat.

Kiss my arse - the only decent thing the U.S. gave us musically was Elvis and Rock'n'roll...don't tell me rap and pop-punk are a good thing

 

[Evil Undead]

Basses in the US are cheaper than in the UK because the US continues to put out 95% of all good music in the world. It's like an endorsement deal for the whole country for having better taste in music and better musicians to boot. Tell the UK to step it up musically and maybe they'll be in the same boat.

Meep! What about The Beatles? The Stones? The Who? Derek and the Dominoes? Def Leppard? Ok, maybe not so much

Anyway, we've made our fair share of awesome music!

 

[i hate username]

yeah but UK VAT is like 17.5%, and my local sales tax is only 4% here in Maryland. That and they have to pay shipping from the US, and then import duties. A long time ago, when the dollar was much stronger, I used to buy goods from the UK regularly because it was much cheaper than buying them in the US. Tables have turned for much of Europe! Buy our US made goods, please.

Im trying to think of one thing other than musical instruments that someone would actually want to say made in the u.s......

Besides most things say made in china anyway.

 

[itsalljustaride]

Exactly. So get a Marleaux, Warwick, Mayones, Sandberg, Celinder, Ritter, Sei, Status, you name and go laugh at the Americans



Just buy what you want. If you really think you're spending too much money on it, it ain't worth it.

Exactly. There are plenty of wonderful European brands that we in the US get shafted on in import taxes as well. Maybe not quite to the extent of the UK, but still. I'd love a nice Cole Clark acoustic guitar, but the import taxes/associated costs on them from AUS automatically add a hefty chunk to the price.

 

[i hate username]

Basses in the US are cheaper than in the UK because the US continues to put out 95% of all good music in the world. It's like an endorsement deal for the whole country for having better taste in music and better musicians to boot. Tell the UK to step it up musically and maybe they'll be in the same boat.

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!

U.K. and Europe bands have been wiping the floor with U.S. bands. Aside from the ones already mentioned meshuggah,Sikth, Architects to name only a few from the metal side of things.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Meep! What about The Beatles? The Stones? The Who? Derek and the Dominoes? Def Leppard? Ok, maybe not so much

Anyway, we've made our fair share of awesome music!

If Pete Townsend would stop smashing all of his instruments on stage, the rest of you could have something to play.

Besides, this is why we can't let you have nice things:

 

[Flaked Beans]

Kiss my arse - the only decent thing the U.S. gave us musically was Elvis and Rock'n'roll...don't tell me rap and pop-punk are a good thing

Not exactly!

 

[FunkMetalBass]

...Sikth...

Gawd I love Sikth. It's such a shame that they broke up. When I first heard "Bland Street Bloom," I almost shat myself. Pure awesomeness in every way possible.

 

[MtManiac]

You fail to take into account that the average US citizen has to use their personal vehicle far more than the average Canadian...

Off topic, but how do you figure that? Canada is full of wide open space, and you gotta travel to get anywhere. You need a car here, unless you live in Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal but in that case the same logic applies there as it does to any US city.

 

[thehangingmist]

But it's easy to get tabla-ture!

/ducking

lol want to trade a couple of awesome tabla's for some bass gear?

 

[bassbenj]

You'd change your tune pretty quickly if you did move from the UK to the US. I did, and I have.

Oh sure, we feel sorry for you...NOT. Anyway you came to New Jersey not the US! You can always drive to NYC if you get homesick for astronomical prices!

 

[pipogpop]

i also wish that i live en USA because here in Denmark is bass guitars really expensive even more expensive than UK

 

[KarateKid25]

Music gear is expensive here in Australia too. I just do most of my equipment shopping in the US. In Australia we don't attract tax until you hit $1000 value. Even then it is only 10% which isn't too bad.

So far 3 of my 5 basses are from the states, as are most of my effects and my SVT amp. If something arrives and I don't end up liking it, that's not a worry because I can usually sell the item on locally for $$$'s more than I paid for it anyway.

The only real frustration is if you see something that a seller doesn't want to ship overseas. That's where 'contacts' come in handy

 

[Simo98]

(just over $1 AUD a litre right now, right? It's about £1.15 a litre in the UK at the moment, so that's less than half the price)

More like $1.50

But yeah, still cheaper (although I have seen some utterly rediculious prices way out from civilisation, like $4.50 a litre ), and a lot of people do drive smaller cars or more effecient vehicles. Most people have a 4wd by nessecity rather than by choice.

 

[Gibenbackerbass]

It's a fact that we pay over 50% of our income in taxes. Add up federal income tax, state income tax, Social Insecurity tax, sales tax, gas tax, phone tax, utilities tax, real estate tax, personal property tax, inheritance tax, vehicle registrations, etc., etc. and you will be amazed. We are taxed out the wazoo and it's STILL a great country in spite of that. (and to think some politicians are actually talking about raising our taxes) If we had to pay all these taxes at once every year there would be a revolution.

Sorry for the rambling. This probably shouldn't be in the "Basses" section.

I think if you do a cumulative look----income, gas, utilities, sales, SocSec, just about everything you get has taxes added on---you'd get close to 50%. Its the dirty little secret the pols don't want you to be aware of.

All too often people forget or just aren't cognizant of all these taxes. If you own a home in New York you pay dearly for it. School Tax and Property Tax, along with all the other stated taxes puts me well into the 50% tax bracket.